From the launch of the new Global Shea Alliance to the grafting of shea trees to a business-to-business forum, “Shea 2011: Sustainable Solutions” connected hundreds of shea stakeholders from across West Africa and around the world to each other and the information they need to grow the industry.

Business

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Florizelle Liser discussed business challenges with stakeholders.  International and national exporting companies, a Member of Parliament, and finance and transport service providers participated in the stakeholder roundtable moderated by USAID Trade Hub Director Vanessa Adams and held at the USAID Trade Hub’s Accra, Ghana, office on Feb. 21.

Implementing a regional warehouse receipt scheme, improving collaboration among regional and national stakeholders in agricultural sectors, and increasing advocacy communications among stakeholders are among 10 strategic recommendations from the USAID Trade Hub’s recently submitted study of regional agricultural trade policy and transport in West Africa.

About two years ago, Felicite Yameogo, known in Burkina Faso as “Mme Karite” (French for "Lady Shea") for her more than two decades of work in the sector, watched helplessly as her company’s financial viability came undone. Karikis, based in Ouagadougou, produces a variety of cosmetics with all natural shea butter produced by thousands of Burkinabe women.